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MOBILISATION
OF RESERVES
BEGINS ON
CYPRUS
NICOSIA, Friday
(AAP). — The Cyprus
Government began a
general mobilisation to
day and advised reserve
officers of the national
guard to prepare for
active duty.
The move came as ten
sion reached new heights
throughout the island after
Turkey rejected Greece's
offer to open negotiations
on the crisis.
Reserve officers of the
10,000-man Greek-Cypriot
national guard were told
to report for orders and
equipment.
The national guard is led
by Greek army officers.
Military sources said that
the ratio was about one
officer to every ten enlisted
men.
In Turkish-Cypriot areas
the hope was that any hour
now Turkey would send its
forces across the 40 miles
of Mediterranean separa
ting Cyprus from the
southern Turkish coast and
carve out separate sections
of the island republic for
the 100,000 Turkish-Cyp
riots and 500,000 Greek
Cypriots.
Clashes last week be
tween the two communities
sparked the present crisis.
In Athens, it was repor
ted tanks, troops and mis
siles rumbled today along
both sides of the 100-mile
frontier between Greece
and Turkey in a massive
showdown over Cyprus.
Cypriot authorities — in
the face of a threatened
Turkish invasion — an
nounced the air evacuation
of 500 women and child
ren. moslty Americans.
US and UN special en
voys worked to keep the
dispute between Greece
and Turkey from exploding
into war between the two
NATO allies.
In Ankara, 2,000 stu
dent demonstrators went
on the rampage in the
centre of the Turkish
capital last night, smash
ing windows of American
offices only a few hours
after the arrival of Presi
dent Johnson's special en
voy Cyrus Vance.
The Australian Govern
ment was profoundly dis
turbed at the deterioration
in relations between the
Governments of Turkey
and Greece, the Acting
Minister for External
Affairs, Senator Gorton,
said last night.
"We have made known
our grave concern to both
the Governments involved.
"A war In this area
would have disastrous con
scquences for Cyprus and
for both Turkey and
Greece".
The safety of Australian
citizens would be en
sured, Senator Gorton said.
$